"What kind of situation?"
"I stopped a vehicle. The driver is claiming to be a federal investigator."
A pause followed.
"Did you verify the identification?"
Collins looked toward Victoria.
"Not yet."
Victoria shook her head slightly.
Collins continued.
"She has a badge, but I don't know if it's legitimate."
The sergeant responded.
"What's her name?"
Collins hesitated.
Victoria answered loudly enough for the radio to pick up.
"Agent Victoria Hayes."
The radio went silent.
Collins looked at her.
"What are you doing?"
Victoria said nothing.
Then the sergeant's voice returned.
"Collins, repeat that name."
Collins frowned.
"Victoria Hayes."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Then:
"Put her on the radio."
Collins looked confused.
"Sergeant?"
"I said put her on the radio."
Collins slowly extended the microphone.
Victoria accepted it.
"This is Agent Hayes."
A man's voice came through.
"Agent, this is Sergeant Walker. May I ask what you're doing on Interstate 80?"
Victoria glanced at Collins.
"Conducting an investigation."
"What investigation?"
"An active one."
"I wasn't informed of any federal operation."
"That doesn't surprise me."
Collins watched her carefully.
The sergeant's tone became more cautious.
"Agent Hayes, I need you to understand that Officer Collins was performing his assigned duties."
Victoria looked at the officer.
"Is that what you believe?"
"Excuse me?"
"Do you believe taking another officer's identification and refusing to return it is part of his assigned duties?"
The radio went silent.
Victoria continued.
"Do you also believe changing the reason for a traffic stop after the vehicle has been pulled over is acceptable?"
Collins suddenly reached for the microphone.
"Give that back!"
Victoria handed it to him without resistance.
He grabbed the microphone.
"Sergeant, she's interfering with my stop!"
The response was immediate.
"Collins, stop talking."
Collins froze.
"What?"
"Do exactly what I tell you. Do not touch her again. Do not search anything else. And do not leave that location."
Collins stared at the radio.
"Sergeant, I—"
"That is an order."
The transmission ended.
For a moment, Collins simply stood there.
Victoria looked at him.
"That went well."
He turned angrily.
"You think you're clever?"
"No."
"You're enjoying this."
Victoria shook her head.
"I'm disappointed."
"Disappointed?"
"Yes."
She looked toward his patrol vehicle.
"I expected someone more experienced to make a better attempt at hiding what was happening."
Collins stepped closer.
"You're not going to get away with this."
Victoria looked directly at him.
"Get away with what?"
He opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
She waited.
"Go ahead," she said. "Finish the sentence."
He looked away.
Victoria slowly lowered her hands.
"That's what I thought."
A second vehicle appeared in the distance.
It approached with its headlights on high beam before slowing behind Collins's patrol car.
The driver's door opened.
A tall man in his late forties stepped out.
Sergeant Michael Walker.
He wore a dark police uniform, a heavy jacket, and an expression that suggested he was already irritated.
He approached Collins first.
"What happened?"
Collins immediately began explaining.
"Sergeant, this woman claims to be a federal agent. She became hostile when I searched her vehicle."
Victoria looked at him.
"That's not what happened."
Walker raised one hand.
"Nobody asked you yet."
Victoria nodded.
"Of course."
Walker turned toward Collins.
"Where's the badge?"
Collins held it out.
Walker took it.
He opened the wallet.
His expression changed.
He looked at the identification.
Then at Victoria.
Then back at the identification.
"Agent Hayes?"
"Yes."
Walker closed the wallet.
"Why didn't you tell me you were conducting an operation?"
Victoria replied calmly.
"Because I wasn't required to inform you."
Walker looked uncomfortable.
"Well, we have procedures."
"Yes. We do."
She extended her hand.
"My badge, please."
Walker hesitated.
Then he returned it.
Victoria accepted the wallet and placed it inside her jacket.
"Thank you."
Walker cleared his throat.
"Now, perhaps we can resolve this misunderstanding."
Victoria looked at Collins.
"Is that what we're calling it?"
Walker frowned.
"Agent, there's no reason to escalate this."
Victoria looked back at him.
"Sergeant, do you know why I stopped asking Officer Collins questions?"
Walker said nothing.
"Because he already told me everything I needed to know."
Collins immediately interrupted.
"I didn't tell you anything!"
Victoria looked at him.
"Exactly."
She reached into her jacket and removed her phone.